Michael G. Brown, “When the Fog Lifts,” The Circuit Rider (January 1991)
“When the Fog Lifts”
Walter J. Burghardt, S.J., “Alive to God in Christ Jesus,” Lovely in Eyes Not His, p. 41-46
2 Malcolm Muggeridge, Jesus: The Man who Lives, p. 100
3 Phillis Levin, “The Third Day,” Divine Inspiration, p. 520
3 Alice Walker, “The Abduction of Saints,” Divine Inspiration, p. 521
4-5 Adam of St. Victor, “Ecce Dies Celebris,” Divine Inspiration, p. 525
4-5 Kofi Awoonor, “Easter Dawn,” Divine Inspiration, p. 527
4-5 Ku Sang, “Easter Hymn,” Divine Inspiration, p. 524
5 Aleane Mason, “Christmas Letter,” (Christmas File)
“Christmas Letter”
We don’t know how it could have happened without warning but one day the oak trees were green and the very next day (or so it seemed) they had all been changed to gold! How exciting to live in the midst of such magic! How breathtaking to have such beauty all around us! It’s worth dozens of those things we once thought were necessities and now find we can do without! Then suddenly it was Winter! Squalls of wind and rain sent the golden leaves showering from the trees, leaving what looked like dead limbs, and we were sad until we remembered that Spring always follows Winter and, for the Christian, Life always follows death. (“Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen.”)
11 Peter J. Gomes, “Incredible Freedom,” Best Sermons 2, p. 75-84
11 Jane Kenyon, “Depression,” Otherwise, p. 82
“Depression”
11 Ronald Parker, “An Idle Tale”
“An Idle Tale”
Only an idle tale
the possibility of feeding
all the children of the world
who die for lack of food.
Only an idle tale
this talk of peace with those
we’ve long defined as enemies of God.
Only an idle tale
the starry-eyed belief by some
that we can live with less
than this grotesque abundance.
Only an idle tale
that we should turn the other cheek
that love is stronger than
a thousand bombs.
Only an idle tale
that he is risen from the dead
and still has power to move our lives
If we believed these idle tales
our lives would never be the same.
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; 5 and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.
24:1 τη δε μια των σαββατων ορθρου βαθεος ηλθον επι το μνημα φερουσαι α ητοιμασαν αρωματα και τινες συν αυταις 24:2 ευρον δε τον λιθον αποκεκυλισμενον απο του μνημειου 24:3 και εισελθουσαι ουχ ευρον το σωμα του κυριου ιησου 24:4 και εγενετο εν τω διαπορεισθαι αυτας περι τουτου και ιδου ανδρες δυο επεστησαν αυταις εν εσθησεσιν αστραπτουσαις 24:5 εμφοβων δε γενομενων αυτων και κλινουσων το προσωπον εις την γην ειπον προς αυτας τι ζητειτε τον ζωντα μετα των νεκρων 24:6 ουκ εστιν ωδε αλλ ηγερθη μνησθητε ως ελαλησεν υμιν ετι ων εν τη γαλιλαια 24:7 λεγων οτι δει τον υιον του ανθρωπου παραδοθηναι εις
χειρας ανθρωπων αμαρτωλων και σταυρωθηναι και τη τριτη ημερα αναστηναι 24:8 και εμνησθησαν των ρηματων αυτου 24:9 και υποστρεψασαι απο του μνημειου απηγγειλαν ταυτα παντα τοις ενδεκα και πασιν τοις λοιποις 24:10 ησαν δε η μαγδαληνη μαρια και ιωαννα και μαρια [η] ιακωβου και αι λοιπαι συν αυταις αι ελεγον προς τους αποστολους ταυτα 24:11 και εφανησαν ενωπιον αυτων ωσει ληρος τα ρηματα αυτων και ηπιστουν αυταις 24:12 ο δε πετρος αναστας εδραμεν επι το μνημειον και παρακυψας βλεπει τα οθονια κειμενα μονα και απηλθεν προς εαυτον θαυμαζων το γεγονος
Robert McAfee Brown, Unexpected News, p. 21-32
Frederick Buechner, “The Road to Emmaus,” The Magnificent Defeat, p. 82-89
Walter J. Burghardt, S.J., “If You Had Looked Into His Eyes,” Lovely in Eyes Not His, p. 47-52
Dom Helder Camara, Through the Gospel, p. 146
Through the Gospel
I was thinking about this one day when someone knocked on my door. It was a poor man. He had interrupted my meditation on the disciples at Emmaus: how was it they hadn’t been able to recognize Christ? To get rid of the fellows as quickly as I could I gave him a little cash, a smile and a good-bye. But the moment the door was shut I realized: ‘You’ve behaved exactly like the disciples at Emmaus. The Lord knocked on your door, he spoke to you, and you couldn’t get rid of the living Christ fast enough to return to your thoughts on the blindness of your brothers, the disciples of Emmaus.’
Thomas R. Haney, Today’s Spirituality , p. 189
E. Glenn Hinson, “The Road to Emmaus,” Weavings (November/December 2001), p. 32-38
Gerard Manley Hopkins, “The Half-way House,” Divine Inspiration, p. 550
Denise Levertov, “The Servant-Girl at Emmaus (A Painting by Velazquez),” Breathing the Water, p. 66
Denise Levertov, “Genesis (Abraham) and Gospels,” Communion, p. 479-492
Harold McCurdy, “That Day,” Divine Inspiration, p. 548
John Shea, The Hour of the Unexpected, p. 39-40
Samuel Terrien, “On the Way to Emmaus,” The Elusive Presence, p. 431-434
The Elusive Presence
[This story] plays on the interrelationship between the elusiveness of vision and the simplicity of eucharistic communion. (p. 432)
The preaching of the Word leads to the acting of the Word, which is the offering of the self. Both of them together open the eyes of the church. The presence remains elusive, for sight is temporary, but faith takes over, fills in, and holds on. (p. 434)
Christian Wiman, My Bright Abyss, p. 9
My Bright Abyss
… Christ will appear on this earth as calmly and casually as he appeared to the disciples walking to Emmaus after his death, who did not recognize this man to whom they had pledged their very lives; this man whom they had seen beaten, crucified, abandoned by God; this man who, after walking the dusty road with them, after sharing an ordinary meal and discussing the scriptures, had to vanish once more in order to make them see.
Franz Wright, “Text and Commentary,” God’s Silence, p. 64
“Text and Commentary”
Your friends slowly walking, eyes downcast, a
little like Hiroshima’s strange
handful of unscathed survivors, the
road out of Jerusalem—
You appeared among them, walked alongside
them, asked them why they wept, yet for the longest
time nobody recognized You, nobody knew
who You might be
The road to Emmaus is this world
13-35 Mark 16:12-13
25-26 1 Peter 1:10-11
28-32 Judges 6:18-23
32 Psalm 102:3-4; Jeremiah 20:9
13-17 Robert F. Morneau, “The Gift of Companions,” Gift Mystery Calling, p. 25-30
15 David H. C. Read, “Rational Religion,” I Am Persuaded, p. 18-27
25-49 John Dominic Crossan, “Bread and Fish,” The Historical Jesus, p. 398-404
28-35 Michel Boutier, Prayers for My Village, p. 67
28-35 Denise Levertov, “On Belief in the Physical Resurrection of Jesus,” Sands of the Well, p. 115
“On Belief in the Physical Resurrection of Jesus”
30-35 Robert F. Morneau, “The Call to Eucharist,” Gift Mystery Calling, p. 85-90
30-31 Jaroslav Pelikan, The Illustrated Jesus through the Centuries, p. 198
35 Imaging the Word, Vol. 2, p. 190-191
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning 23 and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, 29 but they constrained him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, 34 who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
24:13 και ιδου δυο εξ αυτων ησαν πορευομενοι εν αυτη τη ημερα εις κωμην απεχουσαν σταδιους εξηκοντα απο ιερουσαλημ η ονομα εμμαους 24:14 και αυτοι ωμιλουν προς αλληλους περι παντων των συμβεβηκοτων τουτων 24:15 και εγενετο εν τω ομιλειν αυτους και συζητειν και αυτος ο ιησους εγγισας συνεπορευετο αυτοις 24:16 οι δε οφθαλμοι αυτων εκρατουντο του μη επιγνωναι αυτον 24:17 ειπεν δε προς αυτους τινες οι λογοι ουτοι ους αντιβαλλετε προς αλληλους περιπατουντες και εστε σκυθρωποι 24:18 αποκριθεις δε ο εις ω ονομα κλεοπας ειπεν προς αυτον συ μονος παροικεις ιερουσαλημ και ουκ εγνως τα γενομενα εν αυτη εν ταις ημεραις ταυταις 24:19 και ειπεν αυτοις ποια οι δε ειπον αυτω τα περι ιησου του ναζωραιου ος εγενετο ανηρ προφητης δυνατος εν εργω και λογω εναντιον του θεου και παντος του λαου 24:20 οπως τε παρεδωκαν αυτον οι αρχιερεις και οι αρχοντες ημων εις κριμα θανατου και εσταυρωσαν αυτον 24:21 ημεις δε ηλπιζομεν οτι αυτος εστιν ο μελλων λυτρουσθαι τον ισραηλ αλλα γε συν πασιν τουτοις τριτην ταυτην ημεραν αγει σημερον αφ ου ταυτα εγενετο 24:22 αλλα και γυναικες τινες εξ ημων εξεστησαν ημας γενομεναι ορθριαι επι το μνημειον 24:23 και μη ευρουσαι το σωμα αυτου ηλθον λεγουσαι και οπτασιαν αγγελων εωρακεναι οι λεγουσιν αυτον ζην 24:24 και απηλθον τινες των συν ημιν επι το μνημειον και ευρον ουτως καθως και αι γυναικες ειπον αυτον δε ουκ ειδον 24:25 και αυτος ειπεν προς αυτους ω ανοητοι και βραδεις τη καρδια του πιστευειν επι πασιν οις ελαλησαν οι προφηται 24:26 ουχι ταυτα εδει παθειν τον χριστον και εισελθειν εις την δοξαν αυτου 24:27 και αρξαμενος απο μωσεως και απο παντων των προφητων διηρμηνευεν αυτοις εν πασαις ταις γραφαις τα περι εαυτου
24:28 και ηγγισαν εις την κωμην ου επορευοντο και αυτος προσεποιειτο πορρωτερω πορευεσθαι 24:29 και παρεβιασαντο αυτον λεγοντες μεινον μεθ ημων οτι προς εσπεραν εστιν και κεκλικεν η ημερα και εισηλθεν του μειναι συν αυτοις 24:30 και εγενετο εν τω κατακλιθηναι αυτον μετ αυτων λαβων τον αρτον ευλογησεν και κλασας επεδιδου αυτοις 24:31 αυτων δε διηνοιχθησαν οι οφθαλμοι και επεγνωσαν αυτον και αυτος αφαντος εγενετο απ αυτων 24:32 και ειπον προς αλληλους ουχι η καρδια ημων καιομενη ην εν ημιν ως ελαλει ημιν εν τη οδω και ως διηνοιγεν ημιν τας γραφας 24:33 και ανασταντες αυτη τη ωρα υπεστρεψαν εις ιερουσαλημ και ευρον συνηθροισμενους τους ενδεκα και τους συν αυτοις 24:34 λεγοντας οτι ηγερθη ο κυριος οντως και ωφθη σιμωνι 24:35 και αυτοι εξηγουντο τα εν τη οδω και ως εγνωσθη αυτοις εν τη κλασει του αρτου
36-49 Mark 16:14-18
44 Luke 9:22
46 Psalm 71:20-21
49 Isaiah 32:15; Acts 1:4
36-43 Franz Wright, “Text and Commentary,” God’s Silence, p. 64
“Text and Commentary”
40-43 “Gospel of the Hebrews 7,” The Historical Jesus, p. 251
“Gospel of the Hebrews 7”
For James had sworn that he would not eat bread from that hour in which he had drunk the cup of the Lord until he should see him risen from among them that sleep. And shortly thereafter the Lord said: Bring a table and bread!
… My brother eat thy bread, for the Son of Man is risen from among them that sleep.
44-49 Donald Senior and Carroll Stuhlmueller, Biblical Foundations for Mission, p. 256-259
44-49 Imaging the Word, Vol. 3, p. 200
49 John Donne, “Christ the Light,” Classics of Western Spirituality, p. 128
36 As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. 37 But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high.”
24:36 ταυτα δε αυτων λαλουντων αυτος ο ιησους εστη εν μεσω αυτων και λεγει αυτοις ειρηνη υμιν 24:37 πτοηθεντες δε και εμφοβοι γενομενοι εδοκουν πνευμα θεωρειν 24:38 και ειπεν αυτοις τι τεταραγμενοι εστε και δια τι διαλογισμοι αναβαινουσιν εν ταις καρδιαις υμων 24:39 ιδετε τας χειρας μου και τους ποδας μου οτι αυτος εγω ειμι ψηλαφησατε με και ιδετε οτι πνευμα σαρκα και οστεα ουκ εχει καθως εμε θεωρειτε εχοντα 24:40 και τουτο ειπων επεδειξεν αυτοις τας χειρας και τους ποδας 24:41 ετι δε απιστουντων αυτων απο της χαρας και θαυμαζοντων ειπεν αυτοις εχετε τι βρωσιμον ενθαδε 24:42 οι δε επεδωκαν αυτω ιχθυος οπτου μερος και απο μελισσιου κηριου 24:43 και λαβων ενωπιον αυτων εφαγεν
24:44 ειπεν δε αυτοις ουτοι οι λογοι ους ελαλησα προς υμας ετι ων συν υμιν οτι δει πληρωθηναι παντα τα γεγραμμενα εν τω νομω μωσεως και προφηταις και ψαλμοις περι εμου 24:45 τοτε διηνοιξεν αυτων τον νουν του συνιεναι τας γραφας 24:46 και ειπεν αυτοις οτι ουτως γεγραπται και ουτως εδει παθειν τον χριστον και αναστηναι εκ νεκρων τη τριτη ημερα 24:47 και κηρυχθηναι επι τω ονοματι αυτου μετανοιαν και αφεσιν αμαρτιων εις παντα τα εθνη αρξαμενον απο ιερουσαλημ 24:48 υμεις δε εστε μαρτυρες τουτων 24:49 και ιδου εγω αποστελλω την επαγγελιαν του πατρος μου εφ υμας υμεις δε καθισατε εν τη πολει ιερουσαλημ εως ου ενδυσησθε δυναμιν εξ υψους
Dom Helder Camara, Through the Gospel, p. 151
Denise Levertov, “Ascension,” Evening Train, p. 115
50-53 Mark 16:19-20
50-51 Chinua Achebe, “Beware, Soul Brother,” Divine Inspiration, p. 569
50-51 Fray Luis de León, “The Ascension,” Divine Inspiration, p. 566
50 Dan Damon, “Jesus is the Center,” The Sound of Welcome, p. 8
50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.
24:50 εξηγαγεν δε αυτους εξω εως εις βηθανιαν και επαρας τας χειρας αυτου ευλογησεν αυτους 24:51 και εγενετο εν τω ευλογειν αυτον αυτους διεστη απ αυτων και ανεφερετο εις τον ουρανον 24:52 και αυτοι προσκυνησαντες αυτον υπεστρεψαν εις ιερουσαλημ μετα χαρας μεγαλης 24:53 και ησαν δια παντος εν τω ιερω αινουντες και ευλογουντες τον θεον αμην